Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778042920218Screen Shot 2026-04-21 at 9.12.12 AM (9).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Rodrigo Roa Duterte performs a duet with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Thanksgiving Night at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City on June 24, 2019.<em> Richard Madelo, Presidential Photo/File</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte urged the Marcos administration to prioritize helping the poorest of the poor as the country faces what she calls a &quot;triple whammy&quot; due to surging fuel prices, slumping of peso, and soaring inflation.</p><p>Speaking to supporters in The Hague, Netherlands following her visit to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte in detention, the younger Duterte fears that the poor may resort to crime and violence if their basic needs are not met.</p><p>“Triple whammy ang nangyari sa atin sobrang taas ng presyo ng fuel, sobrang taas ng palitan, exchange [rate], and sobrang taas ng inflation. Sa akin lang, kung hindi man kaya tulungan ng administrasyon, ng gobyerno lahat, dapat tulungan nila ‘yung mga pinaka nasa ilalim na hindi na talaga nila makaya kahit man lang yung simpleng pagbili ng pagkain,” she said Tuesday, May 5.</p><p>“Kasi ang problema kasi, kapag ‘yung mga walang-wala, wala din silang mapuntahan, wala silang recourse, ang kinakatakutan natin, they will resort to crime and violence na ayaw natin na mangyari,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PH HAS NO MONEY?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Duterte also alleged that the country is cash-strapped when she responded to a supporter’s question if the Philippines still have money.</p><p>The supporter did not qualify whether the question pertains to the national budget or reserves.</p><p>“Wala na sir. Actually, nakatanggap ang aming opisina ng memo sir na bilangin namin ang savings ng opisina namin kasi gusto makita ng DBM kung magkano ‘yung savings ng lahat ng offices ng government. Wala na. Yes sir,” she responded.</p><p>Duterte did not specify the said memo, but a quick search online would show the recent National Budget Circular issued by the budget department on April 23 which laid out guidelines for the offering and declaration of savings covering unobligated allotments to augment funding for programs intended to mitigate the impact of the Middle East conflict while the country is under a state of national energy emergency.</p><p>The Vice President also took a swipe at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. anew as she responded to another supporter who asked who is now leading the Philippines and handling the country’s business.</p><p>“That is the question ma’am by everyone. Actually yes. But hindi rin natin alam kung bakit nangyari ang mga nangyari, na nanalo siya. Pero para sa akin, nagsinungaling talaga siya sa kanyang gusto gawin para sa bayan at sa kanyang kapasidad na maging pangulo,” Duterte said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JuPrpwBuNaI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte fears that the poor may resort to crime and violence if their basic needs are not met.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte fears that the poor may resort to crime and violence if their basic needs are not met.

VP Sara to admin: Prioritize helping the poor so they won't resort to crime, violence

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VP Sara to admin: Prioritize helping the poor so they won't resort to crime, violence

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 06, 2026 12:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

fuel price

peso slump

inflation

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